Who will join Sheffield Wednesday in the 2016 Championship playoff final next week? Will it be Hull City or Derby County? The answer will be out in the coming hours, as Hull City take on Derby County in their second leg playoff semifinal game on Tuesday.
Going by the first-leg result, Hull look to be the likelier team to make it to the final as they have a three-goal advantage. Playing in front of their home fans on Tuesday night is also likely helping their cause. The pressure is therefore on Derby County to produce a remarkable result in order to make it to the final.
Sheffield Wednesday got past Brighton on Monday with an aggregate 3-1 scoreline over two legs of the Championship playoff semifinal to progress to the next stage. Middlesbrough and Burnley have already sealed the promotion to the EPL next season, and only one team will now join them, and that will be decided in the final.
"I'll make sure that nobody [players] is complacent," Hull City's Steve Bruce told BBC ahead of the game. "We have to be ruthless with what we want to do and we have to make sure that, by hook or by crook, we get through.
"We've given ourselves a great opportunity, but that is all it is at this stage. Derby will want to put things right and we'll be wary of that. This tie isn't over. We've seen strange things happen in football. We have to guard against that," the former Manchester United defender explained.
Although it looks difficult, Derby County are not ready to back down from the challenge. Disappointment or not, Derby coach Darren Wassall has asked his men to put their best foot forward.
"We have to deal with any disappointments that come our way and make sure that we go into the game in a positive frame of mind," said Wassall. "Everyone is determined to put on a performance because we know we let ourselves down in terms of the result on Saturday — and we need to put it right.
"We've beaten Hull before this season and we need to go and do it again. This isn't time for recrimination and blame — this is a time to stick together and represent Derby County in the best way possible," he added.
Where to watch live
Championship playoff semifinal second leg: Hull City vs Derby County is scheduled to kick off at the KC Stadium at 7:45 p.m. BST (12:15 a.m. IST, 2:45 p.m. EST).
In India, the match will be broadcast on Ten 1.
In the UK and Ireland, viewers can catch the game on Sky Sports 2/HD UK and Now TV UK. Online streaming will be available on Sky Go UK. Radio commentary is available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sheffield.
In the US, viewers can catch the game on beIN Sports USA, beIN Sports en Espanol and Fubo TV. Online streaming will be available on beIN Sports Connect.
